Nicolai Müller opened the scoring for Mainz with an early clipped goal, and Japanese international Shinji Okazaki struck in each half – his second double in four matches – to give the visitors a commanding three-goal lead.

However, Franco Di Santo set up Eljero Elia to reduce the deficit with five minutes to play and Di Santo then went one better, scoring a back-post header in the final minute. An equaliser eluded Bremen, though, and Mainz held on to record back-to-back wins.

Earlier in the day, Hamburg bounced back from a pair of disappointing recent results to see off Hannover. Szabolcs Huszti's clinical finish gave Hannover a 28th-minute lead, but Milan Badelj responded with a stylish volley three minutes later.

Maximilian Beister's header then gave the hosts the impetus immediately after the restart, before Hakan Çalhanoğlu rounded off the scoring late on. Hannover's Salif Sané was dismissed for a second yellow card in the final minute, compounding a sixth away defeat in as many games this term.

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